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Four Ventura County residents were arrested after a law enforcement investigation that began in Montecito, authorities said Thursday in Santa Barbara County.

The investigation began at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday along Coast Village Road when patrol officers monitoring the Montecito mudslide disaster area noticed a sport utility vehicle with vehicle code violations.

Deputies pulled over the vehicle and learned it was being driven with a tool and punched ignition, leading investigators to believe the vehicle may have been stolen or illegally possessed, according to authorities.

The three occupants were asked to exit the vehicle. Deputies learned the driver, identified as Frank Clark, 30, of Port Hueneme, was on supervised probation with search terms. The other two occupants, a 46-year-old Santa Barbara man and a 32-year-old Camarillo man, had outstanding warrants for their arrest, deputies said.

Investigators conducted a search of the vehicle in accordance with Clark's probation terms, finding loose ammunition in the backseat, as well as ammunition for both handguns and assault rifles inside a backpack in the vehicle.

The investigation continued at a hotel in the 1100 block of East Cabrillo Boulevard, where the three were associated with two hotel rooms, police said. At the hotel, deputies made contact with Colin Moore, 34, of Oxnard, and a 36-year-old Ventura man and found they both had outstanding warrants for their arrest, authorities said.

Authorities then conducted a search of one of the hotel rooms in accordance with Clark's probation terms. Deputies said they seized a Glock handgun, high-capacity handgun magazines and additional ammunition as a result of the search. Further investigation revealed the handgun and ammunition were stolen during a burglary reported earlier that day in Port Hueneme, authorities said.

Deputies said they arrested Clark on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm, ammunition and high-capacity magazines and driving on a suspended license. Authorities said officers arrested Moore on a no-bail felony warrant. The other three suspects were also arrested for their outstanding warrants, authorities said.

Investigation into the suspects is ongoing. Anyone with additional information may contact investigators at 805-681-4150 or leave an anonymous tip at 805-681-4171.